Arjun Hari Bhalerao
Arjun Hari Bhalerao. The story of his jalsa, which features the ‘Ambedkari Jalsa Tadwalkarancha’ created by him, is a prominent example of how, in the wake of Ambedkar's anti-caste movement, music by Dalits imagined a humanitarian world for us — an idea which was missing in a world where the gruesome practice of untouchability was (and still is) prevalent.
Born on 1 December 1904, Arjun Hari Bhalerao grew up in a family of shahirs. During the 1920s, his uncle Laxman Bhalerao helmed a tamasha troupe which was famous in the region of Usmanabad, Beed and Latur. Wherever this troupe would go, Laxman Bhalerao used to take Arjun with him. Having been exposed to the life of tamasha artists, and subsequently to music, Arjun developed a keen sense of the music that was being produce by Dalits, as well as their lives and struggle. Such was the impact of the powerful narratives of anti-caste jalsas, like the Satyashodhak Jalsa, that he would not pay heed to the dangerous conditions around him.
In 1924, an epidemic of plague had taken its toll on the region he was living in. Even in such a situation, he made sure to be present at the Satyashodhak Jalsa of Ramchandra Ghadge, which possessed undisputed fame during this era. He once mentioned, “Four to five people used to die every day. The image of the light from the flames of the burning bodies, which could be seen from both sides of the river, was depressing. But I was so moved by this jalsa that I would use the light created by the flames of these burning bodies to find my way to it.”
But it was only in 1927 that he realised the jalsa's potential to bring about change in the society. In the same year, he was selected for a teacher’s training program in Pune, and the following year, he was appointed as a teacher in the village of Kasabe Tadawale. This was at the peak of Ambedkar’s movement. In the Tadwale village, a newspaper called Ambedkar’s Janata was being read dedicatedly, because it spoke about the suffering and issues of Dalits — it became their voice. Arjun Hari Bhalerao too was influenced by it, and he started writing as a result. Though he began by writing songs, he realised that the jalsa is a much more effective medium to disseminate Babasaheb Ambedkar's words.
Kasabe Tadwale was the village of many tamasha artists. However, many of them had to move out of the village in order to survive and take up any sort of job that came their way. Hunger was thus an impediment to achieving an anti-caste vision. Bhalerao perhaps realised this. The formation of an Ambedkarite jalsa wasn’t an easy task. He had to first convince artists about the ideas he was intending to perform, and then he had to make sure that practice sessions would be regular. Despite the lack of adequate funds and costumes for performances, Bhalerao was determined to form a jalsa that would spread Ambedkar’s words to the people. But the obstacles he faced weren't just material ones. In 1947, he and members of his jalsa had a close brush with death during a performance in the district of Latur. When Brahmins and Marathas in the region found out that the jalsa was going to be performed, they were ready to attack those who were directly associated with it and those supported it.
In spite of these difficulties, he and his jalsa continued to perform. He explored forms within the jalsa, such as 'wagg', 'gaulan' and farce. Sample one of the earliest 'kawans' he wrote:
Mahne Arjuna gulamgirichi! Hoti bedi annyachi!
Shikvun soda bal! Purana gela tumcha kaal!
(Arjuna talks about slavery! Of the shackles of injustice!
Educate your child ! your past destroyed by Puranas!)
It must be noted that the era when he performed with his jalsa was a time of radical social and cultural change among Dalits — a period when talking about caste injustice and attempts to promote education were nothing short of revolutionary.
Ekmekanchya warkhali! Kiti varsh vaya geli!
Eki nahi tumchi jhali! Jhali re seema!
(Living as inferior and superior! How many years have been destroyed!
We did not unite! This is the limit now)
Despite creating an influential body of work and being one of the shahir-cum-jalsakars who took Ambedkar and his ideas to the most marginalised people across villages, his work is still not known to many today. Dyanewshwar Dhaware, an author of Ambedakari Jalsa Tadwalkarancha succinctly explains the reason behind this. “From the period of Maharaki before the 1940s to the period after the 1960s, social life had been completely changed. Old occupations were abandoned. This community [Dalits], which used to work in the jalsa, was trying to adjust and adapt to the new means of livelihood. During these 20 long years, people who worked in the jalsa itself had begun to forget the times of the jalsa.”
As Babasaheb Ambedkar once suggested, even ideas die if there is no one to spread them. Arjun Hari Bhalerao died on 17 February 1992. If one examines the conditions he grew up and lived in, the music he created and the anti-caste movement he led, it can be said without a doubt that he will always remain a hero, regardless of the extent of his reach. He used music not just to entertain, but also to educate.
Adarsh Shinde
In writing about Adarsh Shinde, Maitreya describes how this third-generation singer carries forward the tradition of his grandfather’s Shinde Shahi repertoire of Dalit music, while also carving a niche for himself in the community through his renditions of Bheem Geete.
Trained in classical music, Shinde’s career kicked off with an album he sang for alongside his father and uncle, and soon, he began singing for Marathi and Hindi films. Maitreya writes of Shinde’s Bheem Geete that talk about the emancipation of Dalits, of the greatness of Babasaheb Ambedkar. He pursued Geete as a moral responsibility rather than a source of livelihood.
In a very short span of time, he managed to earn a name for himself in the Dalit community, and more specifically in the sphere of Bhim Geete. One song by him is extremely popular among the youth and is played every year in Dalit bastis across Maharashtra on 6 December and 14 April:
Navhat Milat Potala/
Aata Kami Nahi Notala/
Majhya Bhimachi Punyayi/
Angathi Sonaychi Botala
(There was scarcity of food/
now there is no scarcity of money/
because of Bhima’s efforts/
I wear the gold ring on my finger.)
All images: Artwork by Satwick Gade
(Courtsey : First Post)
B Kashinand
B Kashinand spent a lot of time with Nagorao Patankar, writes Maitreya — days which would impact the songs and poems he would go on to write. At a time when Dalit artists were denied access to technology, Kashinand’s songs were recorded by cassette companies, and he continued to work silently, away from the spotlight and from public recognition.
His belief in creating a Prabuddha Bharat (enlightened India) was reflected in his songs, his dream of an egalitarian, caste-less society. Kashinand’s work married the facts about Dalit identity and oppression with the larger idea of the exploitation of people across the world.
B Kashinand belongs to that generation of artists whose ideological inspiration and influence was Ambedkar’s thoughts, which was deeply embedded in their music, thereby shaping the country’s discourse.
Though he was originally from Amaravati, he came to Nagpur with his mother when he was a child. In this city, Ambedkar's movement had a profound impact on him and convinced his mother that education has the power to change their lives. When he was seven or eight, he learnt the Marathi alphabet and did not receive any schooling beyond it, in terms of learning in the traditional sense. He lived in Pandharabodi, Nagpur until his death in 2014.
He spent a substantial amount of time in the presence of shahir Nagorao Patankar, who was also from Nagpur. Patankar’s company would leave an impact on the songs and poems he would go on to write. Patankar also sang some of the songs which he had written.
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Bhimrao Kardak
Bhimrao Kardak (1904–1978), fondly known as Shahir Bhimrao Kardak, was a pioneering Dalit folk poet-singer, playwright, and social activist from Maharashtra, celebrated as the founder of the "Ambedkari Jalsa" tradition—a powerful musical and theatrical form that spread B.R. Ambedkar’s anti-caste philosophy among the masses. Born into the Matang (Mang) Scheduled Caste (SC) community, Kardak transformed traditional Marathi folk arts like tamasha and powada into tools of Dalit empowerment, challenging Brahminical hegemony and caste oppression. His performances, marked by biting satire, soulful melodies, and accessible lyrics, made Ambedkar’s complex ideas resonate with illiterate rural audiences, earning him the title “Voice of the Voiceless.” From his first troupe in 1928 to his death in 1978, Kardak’s life was a testament to art as resistance, bridging cultural expression with social revolution. On November 11, 2025, his legacy endures in Maharashtra’s vibrant Dalit cultural movements, inspiring new generations of shahirs and activists.
Early Life and Background
Born in Kasabe Kunabe village, Sinnar taluka, Nashik district, Maharashtra, Bhimrao Kardak grew up in a marginalized Matang family, a Dalit caste traditionally linked to rope-making, drumming, and tamasha performances. The Matangs, classified as Scheduled Castes, faced severe untouchability, economic exclusion, and social stigma, which profoundly shaped Kardak’s worldview. Orphaned young, he was raised in poverty, with minimal access to formal education—completing only primary schooling. Yet, his innate talent for poetry and music, nurtured in the vibrant tamasha culture of rural Maharashtra, set him apart.
- Cultural Roots: The Matang community’s association with folk arts gave Kardak early exposure to lavani (erotic folk songs), powada (heroic ballads), and tamasha (traveling theater). However, tamasha often exploited Dalit women performers, a reality Kardak later sought to reform through his anti-caste lens.
- Early Influences: Inspired by the 19th-century shahir Patthe Bapurao, a Matang pioneer who elevated tamasha’s literary quality, Kardak began composing songs as a teenager. The rise of Ambedkar’s Dalit movement in the 1920s, particularly the Mahad Satyagraha (1927), galvanized his resolve to use art for social change.
Emergence as a Shahir and Ambedkarite Activist
Kardak’s career as a shahir (folk poet-singer) began in the 1920s, but his defining moment came in 1928 when he founded his tamasha troupe in Nashik. By the early 1930s, he aligned with Ambedkar’s movement, transforming his performances into “Ambedkari Jalsa”—a new genre blending music, drama, and political messaging to advocate Dalit rights and annihilation of caste. Unlike traditional tamasha, which often pandered to feudal audiences, jalsa was revolutionary, performed at Dalit rallies, Buddhist conversion events, and Ambedkar’s public meetings.
- First Major Performance: In 1937, at the Kasarwadi meeting in Bombay, Kardak’s troupe performed before Ambedkar, who praised its impact, saying, “Ten of my meetings are equal to one jalsa by Kardak and his troupe.” This endorsement cemented his role as a cultural ambassador for the Ambedkarite movement.
- Artistic Innovations:
- Songs and Powadas: Kardak composed hundreds of songs, including Bheem Geete (songs glorifying Ambedkar) and powadas narrating Dalit struggles, such as the Mahad Satyagraha or Poona Pact (1932). His lyrics, in simple Marathi, made Ambedkar’s legal and philosophical arguments accessible to farmers and laborers.
- Farces and Plays: He wrote satirical farces exposing caste hypocrisy, often portraying Brahmin priests or landlords as villains. His plays, performed by mixed-caste troupes, challenged untouchability norms.
- Reforming Tamasha: Kardak purged tamasha of its misogynistic elements, empowering Dalit women performers like his sister-in-law Godavaribai to take lead roles with dignity.
- Collaboration with Ambedkar: Kardak performed at key Ambedkarite events, including the 1956 mass Buddhist conversion in Nagpur, where his songs celebrated Dalit embrace of Buddhism as liberation from Hindu casteism. His troupe’s mobility—traveling across Maharashtra’s villages—amplified Ambedkar’s call for education, agitation, and organization.
Key Contributions to Dalit Cultural and Political Movements
Kardak’s work bridged art and activism, creating a cultural renaissance for Maharashtra’s Dalits. His contributions include:
| Contribution | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ambedkari Jalsa | Founded in the 1930s; combined music, theater, and anti-caste propaganda. | Reached illiterate masses, making Ambedkar’s ideas a household narrative; inspired other shahirs like Vaman Kardak and Annabhau Sathe. |
| Literary Output | Authored nine books, including Ambedkari Jalse: Swarup Aani Karya (1978), documenting jalsa’s history and techniques. | Preserved Dalit oral traditions in print; provided a blueprint for future performers. |
| Women’s Empowerment | Promoted Dalit women like Godavaribai and Susheela Deole in his troupe, defying tamasha’s exploitative norms. | Elevated women’s agency in Dalit arts, challenging caste-gender intersections. |
| Buddhist Revival | Composed songs for the 1956 Buddhist conversion, linking Dalit identity to Navayana Buddhism. | Strengthened Dalit-Buddhist identity, with songs still sung at Deekshabhoomi events. |
| Political Mobilization | Performed at rallies for the Scheduled Castes Federation and Republican Party of India (RPI), boosting Dalit political consciousness. | Galvanized votes for Ambedkarite parties, especially in 1950s–60s Maharashtra. Notable Works: |
- Bheem Vijay Geet: Songs glorifying Ambedkar’s victories, like the 1930 Kalaram Temple entry movement.
- Chavdar Tale Satyagraha: A powada narrating the Mahad water rights struggle.
- Castecha Band Fodun Taka: A satirical farce urging Dalits to break caste barriers.
His performances, often free or funded by Dalit communities, were staged in open fields or chawls, making them accessible to the poorest. By 1970, his troupe had performed over 10,000 shows, covering Maharashtra, Gujarat, and parts of Karnataka.
Challenges and Resilience
Kardak faced significant hurdles due to his caste and radical message:
- Caste Discrimination: Upper-caste audiences and theater owners boycotted his shows, labeling them “polluting.” He was often denied stage access in urban venues, forcing reliance on rural Dalit bastis.
- Economic Struggles: With no institutional support, Kardak funded his troupe through personal savings and donations, living frugally. His family, including wife and children, endured poverty to sustain his mission.
- Political Backlash: His critiques of Hindu orthodoxy and Congress’s casteism drew threats from conservative groups. During the 1940s, he faced arrests for “seditious” performances under colonial laws.
- Cultural Erasure: Mainstream Marathi literary circles, dominated by Brahmins, marginalized his contributions, dismissing jalsa as “low art” compared to classical forms.
Despite these, Kardak’s charisma and wit won him allies across castes, including progressive Marathi writers like P.L. Deshpande, who admired his lyrical depth. His mentorship of shahirs like his nephew Wamandada Kardak (1922–2008), who composed 10,000+ songs, ensured the jalsa tradition’s continuity.
Legacy and Modern Commemoration
Bhimrao Kardak’s death in 1978 marked the end of an era, but his influence endures in Maharashtra’s Dalit cultural and political spheres:
- Cultural Impact: The Ambedkari Jalsa remains a vibrant tradition, performed at Dalit History Month (April) and Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14). Modern shahirs like Sambhaji Bhagat and groups like Kabir Kala Manch draw directly from Kardak’s playbook, blending folk with hip-hop and protest rap.
- Institutional Recognition:
- The Maharashtra government’s Shahir Bhimrao Kardak Award honors folk artists advancing social justice.
- Universities like Savitribai Phule Pune University include his works in Marathi literature syllabi, with Ph.D. theses analyzing his contributions (e.g., Ambedkari Jalsacha Samajik Prabodhan).
- Community Tributes: In Nashik and Pune, Dalit-Buddhist groups maintain Kardak’s memory through statues, libraries, and annual jalsa festivals. On November 11, 2025, social media posts and local events in Sinnar commemorate his birth anniversary, though no statewide programs are reported.
- Media and Revival: Documentaries on YouTube (e.g., by Ambedkarite channels) and articles in The Mooknayak spotlight his role. His songs, archived by organizations like the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), are digitized for global access.
- Family Legacy: Wamandada Kardak, his nephew, and other Matang shahirs like Viththal Umap carried forward his vision. Wamandada’s song “Bhimacha Danka Wajato” remains an anthem at Dalit rallies.
- Contemporary Relevance: In 2025, amid rising caste violence and debates over reservations in Maharashtra, Kardak’s songs—urging education and unity—resonate at protests like those following the 2023 Parbhani clashes. His critique of “Manusmriti mentality” aligns with VCK and RPI campaigns against Hindutva’s casteist undertones.
Personal Life and Character
Kardak married early, raising a family in Nashik despite financial strain. His wife (name undocumented) supported his travels, often managing the household alone. Known for his humility, he wore simple khadi dhotis and lived in a modest home, reinvesting earnings into his troupe. A devout Buddhist post-1956, he incorporated Navayana principles into his art, rejecting Hindu rituals. His humor—evident in farces mocking casteist priests—endeared him to audiences, while his fiery speeches rallied Dalit youth.
Sources for Further Reading
- Primary Works: Kardak’s Ambedkari Jalse: Swarup Aani Karya (1978, Marathi) offers insights into his methods.
- Scholarly Studies: Anand Patil’s Dalit Literature and Aesthetics and Sharmila Rege’s Writing Caste/Writing Gender analyze his contributions.
- Biographical Accounts: The Mooknayak and Round Table India articles (2020–2023) detail his life.
- Oral Histories: Interviews with Wamandada Kardak (archived by Lokshahir Viththal Umap Smarak Samiti) provide personal anecdotes.
Bhimrao Kardak’s life—from a Matang boy in Nashik to the shahir who sang Ambedkar’s revolution—embodies art’s power to dismantle oppression. On this day, his melodies echo in Maharashtra’s streets, urging us to sing, resist, and dream of a casteless future.
Kadubai Kharat
Kadubai Kharat, an artist from Aurangabad, has recently risen as a powerful voice who delivers poignant messages about the past of the anti-caste movement and its challenging present.
Maitreya says that to understand her works, one must study them through the lens of historical materialism. Her music has a language of its own, while being seeped in the social and political ideology of the Ambedkarite movement.
Living in extreme penury, Kharat sings songs about Ambedkar’s philosophy, earning her a few pennies and some grain. Nonetheless she continues to play her iktara, perform her songs, and fortify the anti-caste movement.
Kadubai Kharat, an artist residing in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, has recently become a sensation on social media platforms due to her voice, in which she sings songs about Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Videos of her singing songs on the iktara have been shared by hundreds of thousands of people. Comments under her videos are genuine responses, often filled with emotion. Her strong, sharp and melodious voice holds together the past of the anti-caste movement and its challenging present.
Courtesy : First Post
Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable
Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable, popularly known as Shahir Sable (3 September 1923 – 20 March 2015), was a legendary Marathi folk artist, singer, playwright, performer, and folk theatre (Loknatya) producer and director from Maharashtra, India. His contributions to Marathi culture, Indian independence movements, and social reform through folk art are monumental. Below is a comprehensive account of his life, work, and legacy based on available information.
Early Life
- Birth and Family: Born on 3 September 1923 in Pasarni, a small village in the Wai taluka of Satara district, Maharashtra, to Ganpatrao Sable. His mother sang traditional ovi (folk songs) while grinding grain, and his father, a Warkari, performed devotional bhajans, which influenced his early exposure to music.
- Childhood and Education: Krishnarao learned to play the flute during his childhood. He completed primary schooling in Pasarni and later moved to his maternal uncle’s home in Amalner, Jalgaon, where he studied until the 7th grade. He left school early to pursue his passion for music and social causes.
- Influence of Sane Guruji: In Amalner, he met the revered Gandhian writer and freedom fighter Sane Guruji, whose philosophy deeply influenced him. This connection sparked his involvement in India’s freedom struggle and social reform movements.
Career and Contributions
Shahir Sable was a multifaceted artist whose work spanned music, theatre, and social activism. His contributions can be categorized as follows:
1. Folk Art and Music
- Shahir Tradition: As a Shahir (folk poet-singer), Sable used powadas (ballads) and lavani (folk songs) to narrate stories of valor, social issues, and cultural pride. His performances were known for their emotional depth and ability to connect with the masses.
- Iconic Songs: His most famous song, "Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha", became an anthem of Marathi pride and was declared the official state song of Maharashtra in 2023. Other notable compositions include Are Krishna Are Kanha, Malharavaari, and Vinchhu Chavla (a popular bharud). Many of his songs, often written by his first wife Bhanumati Sable, were later adapted for Marathi films.
- Maharashtrachi Lokadhara: Sable founded the renowned troupe Maharashtrachi Lokadhara, which performed across India, reviving traditional Maharashtrian folk dance forms like Lavani, Balyanruttya, Kolinruttya, Gondhalinruttya, Manglagaur, Vaghyamurali, Vasudeo, and Dhangar. This troupe was later adapted into a TV show by his grandson Kedar Shinde, aired on Zee Marathi.
- Musical Collaborations: He collaborated with his son, Devdatta Sable, a noted Marathi music composer, on compositions like Aathshe Khidkya Naushe Dare. His work blended traditional folk with contemporary themes, making it accessible to diverse audiences.
2. Folk Theatre (Loknatya)
- Innovator of Mukta Natya: Sable transformed the traditional Loknatya (folk theatre) by introducing Mukta Natya (free drama), a more accessible and socially relevant form of theatre.
- Andhala Daltay: His farcical play Andhala Daltay highlighted the struggles of Marathi-speaking residents in Mumbai. It is widely believed to have inspired the formation of the Shiv Sena, a political party advocating for the rights of native Marathi people.
- Social Messaging: His plays and performances addressed social evils like alcohol abuse, illiteracy, and caste discrimination, while promoting regional pride and unity.
3. Social and Political Activism
- Freedom Struggle: Sable actively participated in India’s independence movement, including the 1942 Quit India Movement, Hyderabad Liberation Struggle, and Goa Mukti Andolan. His powadas stirred nationalist sentiments and mobilized public support.
- Samyukta Maharashtra Movement: During the movement for a unified Maharashtra, his folk songs and performances played a crucial role in uniting Marathi-speaking people.
- Social Reforms: Inspired by Sane Guruji, Sable supported causes like temple entry for Dalits. He organized the Bhairavnath Temple entry in Pasarni, attended by notable figures like Senapati Bapat and Krantisinha Nana Patil. His inter-caste marriage to Bhanumati Barasode in 1948 was a bold statement against caste discrimination.
- Shahir Sable Pratishthan: In 1989, he founded the Shahir Sable Pratishthan and donated 8 acres of ancestral land near Pasarni to establish Tapasyashram, a shelter for aging and underprivileged folk artists to live with dignity and train younger generations.
4. Awards and Recognition
- Padma Shri (1998): Sable was honored with India’s fourth-highest civilian award for his contributions to the arts.
- Best Singer Award (2001): Conferred by the Maharashtra State Government.
- Cultural Legacy: His songs, such as Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, are played at official Maharashtra government functions, and his work continues to inspire artists and activists.
Personal Life
- Marriages: Sable married twice. His first wife, Bhanumati Sable, was a poet who wrote many of his famous songs. Their inter-caste marriage was a significant step toward social reform. His second wife was Radhabai Sable.
- Family:
- Son: Devdatta Sable, a Marathi music composer.
- Daughter: Charushila Sable-Vachchani, an acclaimed dancer and actress.
- Son-in-law: Ajit Vachani, a noted Indian film and television actor.
- Grandsons: Shivadarshan Sable (film director and producer) and Kedar Shinde (noted Marathi film and theatre director).
- Great-granddaughter: Sana Kedar Shinde, who played Bhanumati Sable in the biopic Maharashtra Shahir.
Later Life and Death
- Health: Sable battled Alzheimer’s disease in his later years.
- Death: He passed away on 20 March 2015 at his residence in Mumbai at the age of 91.
- Legacy: His songs, plays, and cultural contributions continue to resonate in Maharashtra. His recordings are played at state events, and his message of social reform and cultural pride is taught to students.
Biopic: Maharashtra Shahir
- Release: A biographical film, Maharashtra Shahir, was released on 28 April 2023, directed by his grandson Kedar Shinde. It chronicles Sable’s life from the 1920s to the 1980s, with Ankush Chaudhari portraying Shahir Sable and Sana Kedar Shinde as Bhanumati Sable.
- Production: The film was produced by Sanjay Chhabria and Bela Shinde, with a screenplay by Pratima Kulkarni and Omkar Mangesh Datt. It featured music by Ajay-Atul, including reprised versions of Sable’s original songs and new compositions.
- Reception: The film received positive reviews, earning 3 to 3.5 stars from critics for its music, storytelling, and depiction of Sable’s legacy. It grossed over ₹5.68 crore at the box office, making it the fifth highest-grossing Marathi film of 2023. It was released on Amazon Prime Video on 2 June 2023.
- Controversy: A dialogue in the film’s trailer, “Aamhi kalaakar aahot pan kunache mindhe naahit” (We are artists, not helpless stooges), was linked by netizens to a political clash between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, causing minor controversy.
Cultural Impact
- Revival of Folk Traditions: Sable’s work preserved and popularized Maharashtra’s folk heritage, ensuring that traditional art forms like Lavani and Powada remained relevant.
- Social Awakening: His art was a powerful tool for social and political awakening, addressing issues like caste discrimination, regional identity, and social justice.
- Influence on Modern Media: His songs and theatre productions have been adapted by contemporary artists and filmmakers, and his legacy continues through his family’s contributions to Marathi cinema and theatre.
Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe
In this account of the work of Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe, Maitreya describes how the poet’s shahiri became a lens through which the masses, who were otherwise prohibited from reading and writing, could view their own subordination and get a sense of anticipated liberation from the caste system.
He describes Sathe's poetry as the sound that became instrumental in deconstructing Brahminical myths, highlighting the oppression prevalent even in posh, urban, so-called educated spaces in the city of Mumbai, and embodied the pain of Dalits who migrated from the villages to the cities, in search of a life of dignity.
According to Sharad Patil, a noted scholar of the Marx-Phule-Ambedkar schools of thought, “Fakira is the best novel by Anna Bhau Sathe. To show that the cactus-like boundary line between the colonies of Mahar-Mangs (untouchables) including Fakira, and Kulkarni-Patil (Savarnas) was that of the class system instead of caste system, is the responsibility imposed on this communist Mang writer. During the time of Fakira, certainly, the caste system was much stronger than the class system in villages in Maharashtra. But, since it was imposed on the mind of Anna Bhau that the suffering of an untouchable peasant is equal to suffering of the touchable peasant in terms of its class, unsurprisingly, his talent was unable to trace the source of caste-class sufferings.”
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Nagorao Patankar
What Nagorao Patankar’s shahiri captured was not only the ideology of Ambedkar, but also a struggle for identity and the tenets of Buddhism that placed human beings, rather than caste, at the centre of the social sphere. He debunked the notion, Maitreya notes, that intellect and academic rigour were defined by one's education and went on to teach numerous artists.
His songs were a manifestation of the idea that where caste acts as a barrier towards accessibility and ability, Dalit shahiri can be the instrument that gives identity and history to a community whose culture was long appropriated by the Brahminical classes.
Nagorao Patankar had a great deal to teach people; he was among the shahirs to illustrate the social, cultural and psychological mutations taking place in society and also within individuals. The Buddhist conversions by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had had a huge impact on the lives of those who witnessed it and followed suit. The conversion to Buddhism brought back the human being as the centrality of social life. Nagorao Patankar wrote:
Sada Satya Margi Pawale Padavi
Swahtala Swathachi Mahatti Kalawi
Dwesh Bhav Lobh Kaam Krodh Maya
Tujhiya Krupene Saree Jalawi
(The feet should always tread on the path of truth
One should know the significance of oneself
Hatred, greed, lust, anger, delusion
All should vanish with your efforts)
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Prakash Patankar
Maitreya writes that apart from marking the beginning of anti-caste music in India, Ambedkarite shahiri was also an important means of freeing music and art from Brahminical hegemony. Prakash Patankar’s legacy in this context is thus an illustration of how music becomes a driving force of change.
The poet furthered the legacy left behind by his father, Nagorao Patankar, keeping Ambedkar’s philosophy at its roots, performing and singing again and again to impress upon people the message of abolishing exploitation, using music as a channel to speak of suffering, and emboldening the community to seek absolute and complete freedom.
Born into a family of shahirs, Pakash Patankar’s life illustrates how music that is against irrationality and prejudice, when projected through those that are historically exploited, becomes the epitome of change.
Mashalwalya N Shivraja
Mashal Pudhe Dav
Kalya Ratitun Jayach Aahe rr
Lai dur Majhya Bhimach Gao
(Oh, N Shivraja, a torch bearer
Show the torch further
We have to walk through dark night
Far is the home of my Bhima)
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Prahlad Shinde
For Prahlad Shinde, music from an early age was associated with grief: his parents would sing kirtans (devotional songs) on the streets to earn their daily bread and Shinde would accompany them.
So when Dalit shahiri and music became a viable career in entertainment, Shinde not only sang multiple verses about the Ambedkarite movement but also recorded folk and devotional songs, as a means of securing a livelihood.
Maitreya brings forth this duality in Shinde’s music:
The question of recognition and dignity had always been central to the lives of Dalits. Singing songs of Brahminical aesthetics brought Prahlad Shinde money and fame. But the “recognition” came from Ambedkarite masses.
The Ambedkarite masses — sizeable consumers of literature — consumed music as well. The advent of technology in the Indian music market made music producers (members of upper castes) meet this demand on a large scale. Prahlad Shinde made his choice: He sang (other) songs when struggling with hunger and poverty, but he also sang the songs of Ambedkarite/anti-caste movement.
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Shahir Krishnarao Sable
Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable popularly known as Shahir Sable was a Marathi language folk artist from Maharashtra, India.
Background
Shahir Sable was born in a small village called Pasarni, in the Wai taluka of district Satara to Shri Ganpatrao Sable in 1923.
Education
After getting primary schooling at birthplace, he was moved to his maternal uncle to Amalner where he studied till 7th.
Career
He also starting playing flute in the childhood. He left the school soon. At Amalner, he was very close to Sane Guruji.
He spend lot of his time with Sane Guruji during freedom struggle.
With his shahiri, he started making contribution in the struggle. He also started "Jagruti Shahir Mandal" during that time.
He is a producer of Marathi Psycho thriller drama ″Talyat-Malyat″. 1984: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award He died in his residence at Mumbai on 20th Match 2015 at the age of 94.
1984: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1988: Shahir Amar Sheikh Puraskar 1990: President, 70th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan, Mumbai 1990: President, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Shahir Parishad, Mumbai 1990: Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar 1994: Sant Namdev Puraskar 1997: Satara Bhushan Puraskar 1997: Shahir Patthe Bapurao Puraskar 1997: Maharashtra Rajya Gaurav Puraskar 1998: Shri Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable has been awarded Padma Shri award (India"s fourth highest civilian honour) for his dedication in the field of Arts in 1998. 2001: Best Singer award from Maharashtra State Government 2002: P Sawlaram Puraskar 2002: Shahir Pharande puraskar 2005: Maharashra Bhushan award by Maharashtra Times 2006: Maharashtra Ratna puraskar 2012: Lokshahir Vittal Umap Mrudgandh Lifetime Achievement award.
Anna Bhau Sathe
Shahir Uttam Mule
Born in Buldhana into the Beldar caste, a chance meeting with Babasaheb Ambedkar at the age of 19 left an everlasting impact on Uttam Mule, writes Maitreya. When the poet witnessed in Nagpur Ambedkar’s denunciation of his caste and his conversion into the Buddhist faith, he chose to remain in the city forever.
Mule’s songs reveal the impact this one act against the caste system had on his mind. He noticed that dishonesty was used as a weapon to preserve Brahminical hegemony. This account highlights the brilliance of the poet who, as is the case with many artists, continued to remain unrecognised for the longest time, in spite of his vast contribution to the repertoire of Dalit music.
In the days when the audio cassette was the only means through which one could listen to recorded music, there were barely any cultural programs at Buddha Vihara in my basti in Nagpur where the songs, ‘Buddha Gautam Ka Sandesh Jag Ko Sunaye’ and ‘Ye Buddha Ki Dharati, Yudd Na Chaye, Chaye Aman Parasti’ were not played.
Despite the limited resources available in the cultural domain, and before the spread of ‘technology’, our festivities were made complete and meaningful by these songs. I remember waking up to bright and sunny mornings on 14 October and 6 December every year, and listening to these songs which were sung in a high-pitched voice and played on a loudspeaker fixed at the dome of the Buddha Vihara.
These two remarkable and enchanting songs were by Uttam Mule, a poet, composer, and singer. He remains distinct because he made Ambedkar and the Buddha both the imagery and the philosophical base of his literature, and more specifically, his music.
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Sambhaji Bhagat
One of the most well-known voices in the anti-caste movement, Sambhaji Bhagat’s work enabled people to understand the complexities of the caste structures and oppression they suffered in a simplified manner.
He listened to Dalit shahirs growing up, and perhaps that was why he embraced music as a tool to bring about change, explains Maitreya. Throughout his career, Bhagat wrote several powadas, bharuds, songs and plays which consistently embodied the message of an egalitarian India, where every individual has equal access to all basic rights and liberties.
The Marathi play Shivaji Underground in Bhimnagar Mohalla, which has received an excellent response — full houses across the year — was originally conceptualised by him. He also wrote the songs and composed the music for it. The play is historic, because it is a retelling of the original story of Shivaji, which was appropriated by right-wing political outfits in Maharashtra.
As a departure from what previous Ambedkari shahirs had done in their careers, he also wrote songs and sang them for a Marathi movie, Nagrik. He was instrumental in the making of the movie Court, which won a National Film Award in 2015. Though the story is told from an upper caste location, the fact that he and his music in the movie stand for the anti-caste movement is still evident.
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Shahir Vitthal Umap
— Art by Satwick Gade
Shahir Vitthal Umap rescued some of the old genres in the Shahiri tradition
Having known him through his songs, powadas, bharuds and acting, I was thrilled to view his body of work through the lens of cultural transition and theoretical elevation of the anti-caste movement in the field of culture and literature. Through his highly creative body of work, Shahir Vitthal Umap almost rescued some of the old genres in the Shahiri tradition and tirelessly performed them to keep them alive. More importantly, with his songs, he captured the richness of a culture which was once despised as 'low'; he touched that which was ‘untouchable’ in the cultural domain. His Koligeet (song of Kolis) “Ye Dada Aavar Ye” is one of the most prominent examples which bought him fame as well as the love of a global audience. For his contribution to the world of shahiri and music, he was awarded the first prize at the International Folk Music and Art Festival at Cork, Ireland.
Born in (then) Bombay in 1931, Vitthal Umap had picked up songs/shahiri as his life very early — he must have been 7-8 years old at the time. He continued to sing and perform till 2010; in fact, he collapsed and passed away while on stage, during a performance at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. For almost 70 years, Vithal Umap sang for the people, sang of their joys and pain, keeping Ambedkar’s anti-caste ideology at the centre of his art. His was an unparalleled life that contributed to the rich quality of literature in the discipline of Ambedkarite shahiri.
Poet, scholar and writer Mahendra Gaikwad illustrated the legacy of Vitthal Umap in the book Dalit Shahiri, writing: the “songs and folk songs [of Umap] have brought prosperous days to the Marathi literature of shahiri. His songs recorded in 1963 have gained so much popularity. Folk songs like, ‘Ye Dada Avar Ye’ or ‘Fu Bai Fu Fugadi Fu’ and other Koli songs, gan and gaulan were hummed by so many Marathi people. Vitthal Gangaram Umap's name should be mentioned with significance when it comes to the conscientised people in Maharashtra through shahiri [sic]. Through his shahiri, Umap has exposed the neurotic inequality within the orthodox Hindu tradition and convinced people with the truth. Vitthal Umap analyses the material and real conditions within society. Through his art of shahiri, he preserves humanistic values.”
Seeing society changing over 70 years, while preserving shahiri — the music of the anti-caste movement — was the work of a genius whose prime concern was to provide music to the neglected aspects of life, found at the Brahminical margins of culture. Vitthal Umap was this genius. Through his music, Umap infused new enthusiasm in the world of shahiri by touching on the small aspects of life. Today, the anti-caste movement and its music is going through a phase in which a lot of skeptical mutations are taking place thanks to the presence of technology. Technology seems to dissolve the existence of the essentials of shahiri, in terms of its instrumentalism and the forms as well as it effects.
Vitthal Umap infused new enthusiasm in the world of shahiri by touching on the small aspects of life
Homi K Bhabha said, “When historical visibility has faded, when the present tense of testimony loses its power to arrest, then the displacements of memory and the indirections of art offer us the image of our psychic survival.” The struggles of the anti-caste movement started with resurrecting and rewriting history, amid circumstances such that Dalits were not allowed to write their history. Shahiri as an anti-caste music, at this juncture, has become a resurrection as well as a revival of Dalits’ identity in history — if not in its pages, then surely in its music. Vitthal Umap’s contribution to the world of shahiri can only can only be heard and felt if not read. Because his music, more than throbbing in your blood, goes to your mind; it becomes a thought.
Vilas Ghogare
Maitreya writes that in order to understand the inextricable relationship between shahiri and the Ambedkarite movement, it becomes crucial to study the work of Vilas Ghogare who would use his iktara to sing of those parts of the society that were neglected by the Brahmins.
A search for a livelihood took him to the city of Mumbai, where he found work as a vegetable vendor, a saree artisan and a labourer at a rubber stump factory. He would continue to sing at social and religious gatherings. When he began writing his own songs, they reflected his vision and understanding of labour in the context of politics, as well as the life of the workers that he had observed in Mumbai.
On 11 July 1997, many Dalits were killed at Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar, Mumbai after the desecration of a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. In broad daylight, SRPF soldiers fired at these Dalits. Vilas visited Ramabai Nagar for four days after this incident, and saw the aftermath of these killings.
Perhaps he couldn’t bear to see the rise of inhumanity and caste cruelty in society. On 15 July 1997, he committed suicide at his home. But before hanging himself, he wrote on one wall of his home, with blue ink: Ambedkari Ekta Jindabad (Hail Ambedkarite Unity). He died, but his songs, which became a documentation of the struggle and triumph of Dalits, continue to live on.
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Wamandada Kardak
Wamandada Kardak, a poet and singer born in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, sang with such zeal of the anti-caste movements of Buddha, Kabir, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar that he reformed the minds of hundreds of people, enabling them to understand the caste system and changing forever their perspective towards life and society.
Maitreya throws light on the profound social messaging embedded in Wamandada’s writing, a body of work marked by immaculate vocabulary, ‘effervescent’ metaphors, seeped in historical context.
A considerable amount of his writing, as some scholars estimate, is still left unpublished. But if one were to look at those songs and poems which are available today and study them through the lens of literary theories and frameworks, one will be forced to confess that translating his literature into a foreign language — in this case English — is much too difficult. He created many images and metaphors which were hitherto unheard of in the domain of literature, and of course, in music.
How did Wamandada Kardak, who was barely educated in the academic sense, manage to create such a rich and impactful body of work? He seems to offer an answer to this question:
“Bhimvani padali majhya kaani
Tich tharali majhi gaani”
“(The voice of Bhima Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar echoed in my ears
That has become my songs)”
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